‘No Pants’ rail rides around the world

By JAKE ELLISON, SEATTLEPI.COM

Updated 1:48 pm, Monday, January 13, 2014

Participants begin to shed their pants for the No Pants Subway Ride annual event joining other pantless riders invading MARTA at the Civic Center station on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014, in Atlanta. The staged event was organized by the group Impro Everywhere. (AP Photo/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Curtis Compton)
Photo: Curtis Compton, AP

Participants begin to shed their pants for the No Pants Subway Ride...

Participants of the No Pants Subway Ride prepare to board a train on January 12, 2014 in Berlin, Germany. The annual event, in which participants board a subway car in January while not wearing any pants while behaving as though they do not know each other, began as a joke by the public prank group Improv Everywhere in New York City and has since spread around the world, with enthusiasts in around 60 cities and 29 countries across the globe, according to the organization's site.
Photo: Adam Berry, Getty Images

Participants of the No Pants Subway Ride prepare to board a train...

People gather on a subway platform as they take part in the annual No Pants Subway Ride Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014, in New York. The staged event, organized by the group Improv Everywhere, sends people onto the subways without pants to act out what might be a normal commute.
Photo: Craig Ruttle, AP

People gather on a subway platform as they take part in the annual...

A man with no pants takes part in the 'No Pants Metro Ride' in Brussels, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014. The idea started years ago as a small prank in New York and has grown into an international celebration of silliness, with dozens of cities around the world participating each year.
Photo: Yves Logghe, AP

A man with no pants takes part in the 'No Pants Metro Ride' in...

Participants read a book as they wait to take the metro, during the 'No Pants Metro Ride' in Brussels, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014. The idea started years ago as a small prank in New York and has grown into an international celebration of silliness, with dozens of cities around the world participating each year.
Photo: Yves Logghe, AP

Participants read a book as they wait to take the metro, during...

A woman holds a sign that reads: 'Excuse me to have too much dignity, no to the public Brussels transport in underwear', as participants around her take part in the 'No Pants Metro Ride' in Brussels, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014. The idea started years ago as a small prank in New York and has grown into an international celebration of silliness, with dozens of cities around the world participating each year.
Photo: Yves Logghe, AP

A woman holds a sign that reads: 'Excuse me to have too much...

Participants not wearing pants ride a subway train while taking part in the annual No Pants Subway Ride Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014, in New York. The staged event, organized by the group Impro Everywhere, invited people onto the subways without pants to act out what might be a normal commute.
Photo: Craig Ruttle, AP

Participants not wearing pants ride a subway train while taking...

A man taking part in the "No Trousers Tube Ride" event walks past a woman carrying laundered shirts on the stairs in Paddington Station, London, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014. The stunt was held to coincide with the "Global No Pants Subway Ride", where passengers board subway cars in the middle of winter without wearing trousers and act normally.
Photo: Matt Dunham, AP

A participant with no pants stands in a metro carriage, as he takes part in the 'No Pants Metro Ride' in Brussels, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014. The idea started years ago as a small prank in New York and has grown into an international celebration of silliness, with dozens of cities around the world participating each year.
Photo: Yves Logghe, AP

A participant with no pants stands in a metro carriage, as he takes...

A man with no pants steps out of the metro, as he takes part in the 'No Pants Metro Ride' in Brussels, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014. The idea started years ago as a small prank in New York and has grown into an international celebration of silliness, with dozens of cities around the world participating each year.
Photo: Yves Logghe, AP

A man with no pants steps out of the metro, as he takes part in the...

Participants take part in the 'No Pants Metro Ride' in Brussels, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014. The idea started years ago as a small prank in New York and has grown into an international celebration of silliness, with dozens of cities around the world participating each year.
Photo: Yves Logghe, AP

Participants take part in the 'No Pants Metro Ride' in Brussels,...

Passengers participate in the annual event, No Pants Subway Ride, in Mexico City, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014. The global event inspired by the comedic performance New York art group Improv Everywhere, in 2002, involves metro riders boarding subway cars in the middle of winter without wearing pants while maintaining a straight face.
Photo: Marco Ugarte, AP

Katerina Marie, left, and Kevin Coleman participate in the No Pants...

People take part in the "No Trousers Tube Ride" event next to other passengers on an underground train passing through central London, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014. The stunt was held to coincide with the "Global No Pants Subway Ride", where passengers board subway cars in the middle of winter without wearing trousers and act normally.
Photo: Matt Dunham, AP

People take part in the "No Trousers Tube Ride" event next to other...

People take part in the "No Trousers Tube Ride" event next to other passengers on an underground train passing through central London, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014. The stunt was held to coincide with the "Global No Pants Subway Ride", where random passengers board subway cars in the middle of winter without wearing trousers and act normally.
Photo: Matt Dunham, AP

People take part in the "No Trousers Tube Ride" event next to other...

People take part in the "No Trousers Tube Ride" event next to other passengers on an underground train passing through central London, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014. The stunt was held to coincide with the "Global No Pants Subway Ride", where passengers board subway cars in the middle of winter without wearing trousers and act normally.
Photo: Matt Dunham, AP

People take part in the "No Trousers Tube Ride" event next to other...

A man looks at a participant who stands on the train without her pants during the 5th annual "No Pants Subway Ride" in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014.
Photo: Andres Kudacki, AP

People take part in the "No Trousers Tube Ride" event next to other passengers on an underground train passing through King's Cross station in London, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014. The stunt was held to coincide with the "Global No Pants Subway Ride", where passengers board subway cars in the middle of winter without wearing trousers and act normally.
Photo: Matt Dunham, AP

People take part in the "No Trousers Tube Ride" event next to other...

People take part in the "No Trousers Tube Ride" event next to other passengers on an underground train in London, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014. The stunt was held to coincide with the "Global No Pants Subway Ride", where passengers board subway cars in the middle of winter without wearing trousers and act normally.
Photo: Matt Dunham, AP

People take part in the "No Trousers Tube Ride" event next to other...

A Muslim woman looks at participants in the 5th annual "No Pants Subway Ride", as they ride the subway without their pants on in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014.
Photo: Andres Kudacki, AP

EDS NOTE - SPANISH LAW REQUIRES THAT THE FACES OF MINORS ARE MASKED IN PUBLICATIONS WITHIN SPAIN - A man sitting next to his daughter looks at a participant who stand on the train without her pants during the 5th annual "No Pants Subway Ride" in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014.
Photo: Andres Kudacki, AP

EDS NOTE - SPANISH LAW REQUIRES THAT THE FACES OF MINORS ARE MASKED...

A passenger stands in between participants as they wait for the train without their pants during the 5th annual "No Pants Subway Ride" in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014.
Photo: Andres Kudacki, AP

A passenger stands in between participants as they wait for the...

A participant of the No Pants Subway Ride rushes to catch a train on January 12, 2014 in Berlin, Germany. The annual event, in which participants board a subway car in January while not wearing any pants while behaving as though they do not know each other, began as a joke by the public prank group Improv Everywhere in New York City and has since spread around the world, with enthusiasts in around 60 cities and 29 countries across the globe, according to the organization's site.
Photo: Adam Berry, Getty Images

A participant of the No Pants Subway Ride rushes to catch a train...

Participants of the No Pants Subway Ride prepare to board a train on January 12, 2014 in Berlin, Germany. The annual event, in which participants board a subway car in January while not wearing any pants while behaving as though they do not know each other, began as a joke by the public prank group Improv Everywhere in New York City and has since spread around the world, with enthusiasts in around 60 cities and 29 countries across the globe, according to the organization's site.
Photo: Adam Berry, Getty Images

Participants of the No Pants Subway Ride prepare to board a train...

A participant of the No Pants Subway Ride looks at a subway map while riding a train on January 12, 2014 in Berlin, Germany. The annual event, in which participants board a subway car in January while not wearing any pants while behaving as though they do not know each other, began as a joke by the public prank group Improv Everywhere in New York City and has since spread around the world, with enthusiasts in around 60 cities and 29 countries across the globe, according to the organization's site.
Photo: Adam Berry, Getty Images

A participant of the No Pants Subway Ride looks at a subway map...

Participants of the No Pants Subway Ride exit and board a train on January 12, 2014 in Berlin, Germany. The annual event, in which participants board a subway car in January while not wearing any pants while behaving as though they do not know each other, began as a joke by the public prank group Improv Everywhere in New York City and has since spread around the world, with enthusiasts in around 60 cities and 29 countries across the globe, according to the organization's site.
Photo: Adam Berry, Getty Images

Participants of the No Pants Subway Ride exit and board a train on...

A participant of the No Pants Subway Ride wearing a luchador, or Mexican wrestler, mask sits next to another looking at a subway map as they ride a train on January 12, 2014 in Berlin, Germany. The annual event, in which participants board a subway car in January while not wearing any pants while behaving as though they do not know each other, began as a joke by the public prank group Improv Everywhere in New York City and has since spread around the world, with enthusiasts in around 60 cities and 29 countries across the globe, according to the organization's site.
Photo: Adam Berry, Getty Images

A participant of the No Pants Subway Ride wearing a luchador, or...

A unsuspecting subway passenger looks at participants of the No Pants Subway Ride on January 12, 2014 in Berlin, Germany. The annual event, in which participants board a subway car in January while not wearing any pants while behaving as though they do not know each other, began as a joke by the public prank group Improv Everywhere in New York City and has since spread around the world, with enthusiasts in around 60 cities and 29 countries across the globe, according to the organization's site.
Photo: Adam Berry, Getty Images

A unsuspecting subway passenger looks at participants of the No...

Participants of the No Pants Subway Ride wait for a train on January 12, 2014 in Berlin, Germany. The annual event, in which participants board a subway car in January while not wearing any pants while behaving as though they do not know each other, began as a joke by the public prank group Improv Everywhere in New York City and has since spread around the world, with enthusiasts in around 60 cities and 29 countries across the globe, according to the organization's site.
Photo: Adam Berry, Getty Images

Participants of the No Pants Subway Ride wait for a train on...

Participants of the No Pants Subway Ride ride a train on January 12, 2014 in Berlin, Germany. The annual event, in which participants board a subway car in January while not wearing any pants while behaving as though they do not know each other, began as a joke by the public prank group Improv Everywhere in New York City and has since spread around the world, with enthusiasts in around 60 cities and 29 countries across the globe, according to the organization's site.
Photo: Adam Berry, Getty Images

Participants of the No Pants Subway Ride ride a train on January...

An unsuspecting subway passenger reads a book next to participants of the No Pants Subway Ride on January 12, 2014 in Berlin, Germany. The annual event, in which participants board a subway car in January while not wearing any pants while behaving as though they do not know each other, began as a joke by the public prank group Improv Everywhere in New York City and has since spread around the world, with enthusiasts in around 60 cities and 29 countries across the globe, according to the organization's site.
Photo: Adam Berry, Getty Images

An unsuspecting subway passenger reads a book next to...

Participants of the No Pants Subway Ride hold hands as they wait for a train on January 12, 2014 in Berlin, Germany. The annual event, in which participants board a subway car in January while not wearing any pants while behaving as though they do not know each other, began as a joke by the public prank group Improv Everywhere in New York City and has since spread around the world, with enthusiasts in around 60 cities and 29 countries across the globe, according to the organization's site.
Photo: Adam Berry, Getty Images

Participants of the No Pants Subway Ride hold hands as they wait...

An unsuspecting passenger sits next to a participant of the No Pants Subway Ride on a train on January 12, 2014 in Berlin, Germany. The annual event, in which participants board a subway car in January while not wearing any pants while behaving as though they do not know each other, began as a joke by the public prank group Improv Everywhere in New York City and has since spread around the world, with enthusiasts in around 60 cities and 29 countries across the globe, according to the organization's site.
Photo: Adam Berry, Getty Images

An unsuspecting passenger sits next to a participant of the No...

Participants of the No Pants Subway Ride hold hands as a train approaches on January 12, 2014 in Berlin, Germany. The annual event, in which participants board a subway car in January while not wearing any pants while behaving as though they do not know each other, began as a joke by the public prank group Improv Everywhere in New York City and has since spread around the world, with enthusiasts in around 60 cities and 29 countries across the globe, according to the organization's site.
Photo: Adam Berry, Getty Images

Participants of the No Pants Subway Ride hold hands as a train...

An unsuspecting passenger passes a participant of the No Pants Subway Ride in Alexanderplatz station on January 12, 2014 in Berlin, Germany. The annual event, in which participants board a subway car in January while not wearing any pants while behaving as though they do not know each other, began as a joke by the public prank group Improv Everywhere in New York City and has since spread around the world, with enthusiasts in around 60 cities and 29 countries across the globe, according to the organization's site.
Photo: Adam Berry, Getty Images

An unsuspecting passenger passes a participant of the No Pants...

A participant of the No Pants Subway Ride prepares to board an approaching train on January 12, 2014 in Berlin, Germany. The annual event, in which participants board a subway car in January while not wearing any pants while behaving as though they do not know each other, began as a joke by the public prank group Improv Everywhere in New York City and has since spread around the world, with enthusiasts in around 60 cities and 29 countries across the globe, according to the organization's site.
Photo: Adam Berry, Getty Images

A participant of the No Pants Subway Ride prepares to board an...

A participant of the No Pants Subway Ride reads a book while riding a train on January 12, 2014 in Berlin, Germany. The annual event, in which participants board a subway car in January while not wearing any pants while behaving as though they do not know each other, began as a joke by the public prank group Improv Everywhere in New York City and has since spread around the world, with enthusiasts in around 60 cities and 29 countries across the globe, according to the organization's site.
Photo: Adam Berry, Getty Images

A participant of the No Pants Subway Ride reads a book while riding...

Participants of the No Pants Subway Ride wait for a train on January 12, 2014 in Berlin, Germany. The annual event, in which participants board a subway car in January while not wearing any pants while behaving as though they do not know each other, began as a joke by the public prank group Improv Everywhere in New York City and has since spread around the world, with enthusiasts in around 60 cities and 29 countries across the globe, according to the organization's site.
Photo: Adam Berry, Getty Images

Participants of the No Pants Subway Ride wait for a train on...

Participants of the No Pants Subway Ride wait for a train on January 12, 2014 in Berlin, Germany. The annual event, in which participants board a subway car in January while not wearing any pants while behaving as though they do not know each other, began as a joke by the public prank group Improv Everywhere in New York City and has since spread around the world, with enthusiasts in around 60 cities and 29 countries across the globe, according to the organization's site.
Photo: Adam Berry, Getty Images

Participants of the No Pants Subway Ride wait for a train on...

Participants of the No Pants Subway Ride ride a train on January 12, 2014 in Berlin, Germany. The annual event, in which participants board a subway car in January while not wearing any pants while behaving as though they do not know each other, began as a joke by the public prank group Improv Everywhere in New York City and has since spread around the world, with enthusiasts in around 60 cities and 29 countries across the globe, according to the organization's site.
Photo: Adam Berry, Getty Images

Participants of the No Pants Subway Ride ride a train on January...

A participant of the No Pants Subway Ride waits for a train on January 12, 2014 in Berlin, Germany. The annual event, in which participants board a subway car in January while not wearing any pants while behaving as though they do not know each other, began as a joke by the public prank group Improv Everywhere in New York City and has since spread around the world, with enthusiasts in around 60 cities and 29 countries across the globe, according to the organization's site.
Photo: Adam Berry, Getty Images

A participant of the No Pants Subway Ride waits for a train on...

Participants of the No Pants Subway Ride wait for a train on January 12, 2014 in Berlin, Germany. The annual event, in which participants board a subway car in January while not wearing any pants while behaving as though they do not know each other, began as a joke by the public prank group Improv Everywhere in New York City and has since spread around the world, with enthusiasts in around 60 cities and 29 countries across the globe, according to the organization's site.
Photo: Adam Berry, Getty Images

Participants of the No Pants Subway Ride wait for a train on...

A woman participating in the annual event, No Pants Subway Ride, stands on the railway platform in Mexico City, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014. The global event inspired by the comedic performance New York art group Improv Everywhere in 2002, involves metro riders boarding subway cars in the middle of winter without wearing pants while maintaining a straight face.
Photo: Marco Ugarte, AP

A woman participating in the annual event, No Pants Subway Ride,...

Commuters participate in the annual event, No Pants Subway Ride, in Mexico City, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014. The global event inspired by the comedic performance New York art group Improv Everywhere in 2002, involves metro riders boarding subway cars in the middle of winter without wearing pants while maintaining a straight face.
Photo: Marco Ugarte, AP

Three men participating in the annual event, No Pants Subway Ride, enter a subway car in Mexico City, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014. The global event inspired by the comedic performance New York art group Improv Everywhere in 2002, involves metro riders boarding subway cars in the middle of winter without wearing pants while maintaining a straight face.
Photo: Marco Ugarte, AP

Three men participating in the annual event, No Pants Subway Ride,...

Marianne Cornejo, far right, and Leah Estreicher, center right, both of New York, start to get dressed at the Union Square subway station after participating in the annual No Pants Subway Ride, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014, in New York. The staged event, organized by the group Impro Everywhere, invited people onto the subways without pants to act out what might be a normal commute.
Photo: Craig Ruttle, AP

Marianne Cornejo, far right, and Leah Estreicher, center right,...

A participant not wearing pants walks along a subway platform while taking part in the annual No Pants Subway Ride Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014, in New York. The staged event, organized by the group Impro Everywhere, invited people onto the subways without pants to act out what might be a normal commute.
Photo: Craig Ruttle, AP

A participant not wearing pants walks along a subway platform while...

People not wearing pants walk up a stairwell at the 14th Street Union Square subway station as they take part in the annual No Pants Subway Ride, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014, in New York. The staged event, organized by the group Impro Everywhere, invites people onto the subways without pants to act out what might be a normal commute.
Photo: Craig Ruttle, AP

People not wearing pants walk up a stairwell at the 14th Street...

People not wearing pants walk in the 14th Street Union Square subway station as they take part in the annual No Pants Subway Ride, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014, in New York. The event, organized by the group Improv Everywhere, invites people onto the subways without pants to act out what might be a normal commute.
Photo: Craig Ruttle, AP

People not wearing pants walk in the 14th Street Union Square...

A participant not wearing pants stands on a subway train while taking part in the annual No Pants Subway Ride, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014, in New York.The staged event, organized by the group Impro Everywhere, invited people onto the subways without pants to act out what might be a normal commute.
Photo: Craig Ruttle, AP

A participant not wearing pants stands on a subway train while...

People not wearing pants stand aboard a departing subway train as they take part in the annual No Pants Subway Ride, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014, in New York. The staged event, organized by the group Impro Everywhere, invited people onto the subways without pants to act out what might be a normal commute.
Photo: Craig Ruttle, AP

People not wearing pants stand aboard a departing subway train as...

Annette Tobiasz, of Highlands, N.J., touches the nose of Timothy Lowe, also of Highland, N.J. as he participates on a subway platform in the annual No Pants Subway Ride, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014, in New York. The staged event, organized by the group Impro Everywhere, invited people onto the subways without pants to act out what might be a normal commute.
Photo: Craig Ruttle, AP

Annette Tobiasz, of Highlands, N.J., touches the nose of Timothy...

People not wearing pants stand on a subway platform at 14th Street Union Square subway station as they take part in the annual No Pants Subway Ride Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014, in New York. The staged event, organized by the group Impro Everywhere, invited people onto the subways without pants to act out what might be a normal commute.
Photo: Craig Ruttle, AP

People not wearing pants stand on a subway platform at 14th Street...

People not wearing pants are passed by commuters at a subway station as they take part in the annual No Pants Subway Ride, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014, in New York. The staged event, organized by the group Improv Everywhere, invites people onto the subways without pants to act out what might be a normal commute.
Photo: Craig Ruttle, AP

People not wearing pants are passed by commuters at a subway...

People walk along a subway platform as they take part in the annual No Pants Subway Ride Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014, in New York. The staged event, organized by the group Impro Everywhere, invites people onto the subways without pants to act out what might be a normal commute.
Photo: Craig Ruttle, AP

People walk along a subway platform as they take part in the annual...

It started as a prank in New York in 2002 -- by the group Improv Everywhere -- and the pantsless rail rides have grown into an international celebration of silliness. Check out the riders from cities around the world.